MEPhI has once again gathered talented, creative children from all over Russia at one site for participation in the jubilee All-Russian contest of schoolchildren’ scientific works “Junior”. 20 years ago, in 1998, “Junior” was the first in a row of contests for young people, who see their future in science.

The final stage of the jubilee “Junior-2017” opened with solemn music of Moscow cadet music corpus. Welcoming speeches were made by organisers, partners, and sponsors of the contest: representatives of the “Intel” company, “Rosatom” state corporation.

In his welcoming speech First MEPhI Pro-rector O.V.Nagornov on behalf of rector congratulated the finalists and thanked organisers, teachers, and supervisors of research projects, whose work guaranteed victory of participants in international contest of schoolchildren’ creativity Intel ISEF, the team of which is formed from “Junior” winners.

Professor A.D.Modyaev spoke about memorable moments from “Junior” history. For 20 years more than 15000 people took part in the contest, and the “Junior” team got more than 80 prizes in America.

B.N.Onykiy, who was curator of the contest for 10 years, said that the contest, “created 20 years ago, turned out to be alive and in demand.”

The good work of the organizers of the jubilee event should be mentioned. Colorful stands, reflecting the modern structure of the university, the area of ​​expertise, and ongoing research, have been displayed in the halls.

Films and photo archives were shown in the event hall of MEPhI, and the video of the "Junior" competition was on television on the first floor. Guests and participants welcomed the new development of Russian constructors, KIKA animatronic robot, which not only talked with the guys on general topics, but also answered any questions, concerning the "Junior", the history of the competition and its winners.

Special attention was paid to the teachers, accompanying the students from other cities of Russia. At the time Olympiad a workshop in effective communication was organised for them, teachers were able to use their skills in working with their students.

This year participants of the selection stage of the contest were more than 757 schoolchildren, 678 projects were shown. The participants represented more than 100 localities of Russia. For the final stage 274 projects were accepted, which is more, than the last year (202). Traditionally, the most numerous was the section “Physics and astronomy”, 84 projects.

Several defenses were conducted in a distant format: schoolchildren of Nizhniy Novgorod region represented projects and took part in Olympiad on the basis of Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University.

In the beginning of the contest final part the open part of the contest was held, the projects’ review by representatives of strategic academic units, guests, and participants of the youth jury of the contest.

The winners of the competition were congratulated and awarded with diplomas, prizes and certificates for training in leading universities of Europe (which will be valid in the case of admission to MEPhI), by the heads of MEPhI Institute.

The sponsor of the contest, known manufacturer of "1C" software projects, presented special prizes to the participants of section "Informatics". Winners received prizes from the partners RZD and Rosenergoatom. Prizes and certificates, which allow to get expert support of MEPhI, were awarded to the schoolchildren.

It is worth adding that the contest "Junior" is included in the list of Olympiads of 2016-2017 school year. This means that the winners of the "Junior" contest can obtain significant benefits for admission to any universities of the country.

In the concluding remarks at the closing ceremony of the 20th All-Russian competition of scientific works of schoolchildren "Junior" the Chairperson of the contest methodical commission A.D. Modyaev said: "The most important in the project is the novelty and significance not only for the executive, but also for the professional community. You got new knowledge, ideas, felt the prospects for direction you choose. You will not go wrong if you enroll to MEPhI. This ensures that you get high quality professional education. "